A Cancer Patient Turns Her Living Wake Into a Surprise Wedding

Guests came to celebrate her life and stayed to celebrate love.

When Liza Heaton, 25, learned that the rare cancer she'd been battling had returned, doctors said she had just weeks to live. While in hospice, she and her love, Wyatt, decided they would make the most of their time together by tying the knot.

So they invited their nearest and dearest for what they thought would be a lakeside fish fry in honor of Liza's life. But the event was actually a wedding that was planned in just two days.

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About 150 guests from all over the country gathered together at the home of Liza's aunt and uncle on Cross Lake near Shreveport, Louisiana. And friends and family were thrilled to dance and party for eight full hours. "I wanted that day to be about the wedding, not about cancer," said the bride.

But because of her synovial sarcoma, a cancer that affects young people, and a gastrointestinal obstruction that would prevent treatment of the tumors, Liza wouldn't be going on a honeymoon. Instead, she got something better.

The day after their Louisiana nuptials, that obstruction miraculously cleared. Liza's new treatment plan now includes a chemotherapy pill to stop the tumors from growing, followed by a trial of a new drug to treat the cancer in the spring.

No longer in a hospice, Liza and her family are feeling hopeful and inspired. The family has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the "Love for Liza Fund," hosted by Johns Hopkins to further research of the rare cancer. The campaign has already received over $280,000 in donations, more than half of the $500,000 goal.

Liza shares her story in hopes that others will regain faith and enjoy the time they have left.